Andaman vs Seychelles

Almost every couple planning an island honeymoon ends up comparing these two. One is a group of Indian islands you can reach without a passport. The other is a famous Indian Ocean nation that appears on every luxury honeymoon list.

Both are beautiful. Both have white sand, warm water and coral reefs. So the real question is not which is prettier — it is which one fits your budget, your leave and the kind of honeymoon you actually want.

We are an Andaman-based tour operator, so you might expect this to be a one-sided article. It is not. Seychelles genuinely beats Andaman at several things, and we will say clearly where. What follows is the honest comparison we give couples who ask us this question directly.

The Short Answer

Choose Andaman if you want a beautiful beach honeymoon at a sensible price, without a passport, forex or long-haul travel. A full week costs a couple roughly ₹75,000 to ₹1,30,000.

Choose Seychelles if your budget is large, you want world-class luxury resorts and dramatic granite-boulder beaches, and you do not mind spending two to three times more. A week for a couple usually starts around ₹2,00,000 and rises quickly.

For most Indian couples, Andaman gives more honeymoon per rupee. For couples with a big budget who want the trip to feel truly international, Seychelles delivers something Andaman cannot.

Andaman vs Seychelles: Quick Comparison

Factor	Andaman Islands	Seychelles
Cost for a couple (about a week)	₹75,000 – ₹1,30,000	₹2,00,000 – ₹4,00,000+
Passport needed	No — domestic trip for Indians	Yes
Visa	Not applicable	Visa-free, but online travel authorisation needed
Flight time from India	2 – 5 hours depending on city	About 4 – 5 hours direct or one-stop
Currency	Indian rupees	Seychelles rupee — forex needed
Beaches	Long white sand, calm water	White sand with famous granite boulders
Luxury resorts	Limited but growing	Excellent, world-class
Scuba diving	Excellent and affordable	Excellent but expensive
Food	Indian food everywhere, easy for vegetarians	Creole and international; Indian food limited
Best for	Value, ease, first island honeymoon	Luxury, privacy, a big-budget trip

Getting There: Flights, Passport and Visa

This is the first practical difference, and it is bigger than it looks.

Andaman is a domestic trip. You fly to Port Blair from cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi or Mumbai. No passport is needed for Indian citizens — a government photo ID is enough. There are no permits for Port Blair, Havelock or Neil Island, no forex to arrange, and no paperwork before you fly.

Seychelles is easier than most international destinations, but it is still international. Indians do not need a pre-arranged visa. You get a Visitor’s Permit free on arrival, usually valid up to three months. However, you must apply online for a Travel Authorisation before you fly, and you need a passport valid for at least six months, a confirmed return ticket, proof of accommodation and proof of funds.

Requirement	Andaman	Seychelles
Passport	Not needed for Indians	Required, 6 months validity
Visa	Not applicable	Visa-free; Visitor’s Permit on arrival
Advance paperwork	None	Online Travel Authorisation before departure
Proof of funds	Not required	Yes, per day of stay
Forex	Not needed	Needed

Traveller insight: Wedding season is chaotic, and paperwork is the last thing most couples want in the fortnight before the trip. A surprising number of couples pick Andaman purely because it removes the passport question — especially when one partner’s passport is being renamed or updated after the wedding.

Andaman vs Seychelles Honeymoon Cost

This is where the two destinations separate most clearly.

Cost Item (Per Couple)	Andaman (5–6 nights)	Seychelles (6–7 nights)
Flights	₹20,000 – ₹50,000	₹50,000 – ₹80,000
Hotels	₹30,000 – ₹70,000	₹90,000 – ₹2,00,000+
Transfers and ferries	Usually included in packages	₹15,000 – ₹40,000
Food	₹10,000 – ₹20,000	₹30,000 – ₹60,000
Activities	₹10,000 – ₹25,000	₹25,000 – ₹60,000
Realistic total	₹75,000 – ₹1,30,000	₹2,00,000 – ₹4,00,000+

The gap comes mainly from two things: hotels and food. Seychelles is a small nation that imports almost everything, so restaurant meals cost far more than most Indian couples expect. A simple dinner for two that costs ₹1,200 in Havelock can easily cost ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 in Mahé.

Luxury Seychelles honeymoon packages, especially those using private-island resorts, run into several lakh rupees per person. Those properties are genuinely extraordinary — but they are a different category of holiday.

Traveller insight: Here is the maths we share with couples who are torn. The money saved by choosing Andaman over Seychelles is often enough to fund a second holiday within the year, or to cover a meaningful part of setting up a new home. Very few couples regret that trade. But if the destination itself is the point of the honeymoon, that logic will not persuade you — and it should not.

Andaman vs Seychelles: Which Is Cheaper?

Andaman, clearly and by a wide margin. Expect to pay roughly two to three times more in Seychelles for a comparable number of nights.

If you are planning an affordable honeymoon, Andaman wins on almost every line item — flights, rooms, food, diving, transfers. Even a premium Andaman trip with a beachfront resort usually costs less than a mid-range Seychelles trip.

That said, one honest correction. Seychelles is not only for the very rich. There are guesthouses and self-catering apartments there, and a careful couple can do a budget Seychelles trip. But a budget Seychelles honeymoon still costs more than a comfortable Andaman one, and you spend more of it worrying about money.

Beaches and Scenery: An Honest Comparison

This is where Seychelles has a real advantage, and it would be dishonest to pretend otherwise.

Seychelles beaches are unusual because of the giant granite boulders scattered across the sand. Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue and Anse Lazio on Praslin are photographed constantly for good reason — they look unlike any other beach in the world.

Andaman’s beaches are different in character. Radhanagar Beach on Havelock is a long, clean curve of white sand backed by forest, regularly ranked among Asia’s best. It is beautiful in a calmer, wider way rather than a dramatic one.

Beach Experience	Andaman	Seychelles
Signature look	Long white curves, forest behind	White sand with granite boulders
Water clarity	Excellent	Excellent
Swimming	Calm and shallow at most beaches	Calm at many, some with currents
Crowds	Quiet, busier at sunset spots	Very quiet
Famous beaches	Radhanagar, Elephant, Kalapathar, Bharatpur	Anse Source d’Argent, Anse Lazio, Beau Vallon

Local Expert Tip: If dramatic scenery is what you want from your photos, Seychelles wins. If clear water you can actually swim and snorkel in for hours matters more, Andaman more than holds its own — and Elephant Beach lets you snorkel over coral straight from the sand.

Where You Stay: Resorts and Villas

Seychelles has the better hotels. That is simply true.

The country has spent decades building an international luxury market, so its beach villas, private-island resorts and spa properties are world-class. Private villas in Seychelles with plunge pools and butler service are common at the top end.

Andaman’s luxury market is smaller and newer. There are excellent beachfront resorts on Havelock Island, but fewer of them, and the very top tier is limited. What Andaman does very well is the middle — comfortable beachfront rooms at prices that would buy you a basic guesthouse in Seychelles.

Accommodation Type	Andaman (Per Night)	Seychelles (Per Night)
Budget room	₹2,500 – ₹4,500	₹6,000 – ₹10,000
Good beachfront room	₹6,000 – ₹12,000	₹18,000 – ₹35,000
Luxury resort	₹15,000 – ₹30,000	₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000+

Overwater Bungalows: The Honest Truth

Many couples searching for these islands are really picturing an overwater bungalow with steps into the sea.

Here is the honest answer: neither destination is the right one for that. Overwater villas are the signature of the Maldives and Bora Bora, not Seychelles or Andaman. Seychelles has a small number of properties with over-water or water-edge villas, but they are the exception. Andaman has essentially none.

If an overwater bungalow is non-negotiable for your honeymoon, look at the Maldives instead. If what you actually want is to open your door and walk onto sand, both Andaman and Seychelles do that well — and Andaman does it for much less.

Romantic Things to Do

Both destinations offer the same core honeymoon experiences. The difference is price and scale.

Experience	Andaman	Seychelles
Candlelight dinner on the beach	Widely available, ₹3,000 – ₹8,000	Widely available, ₹12,000 – ₹30,000
Sunset points	Radhanagar, Kalapathar, Chidiya Tapu	Beau Vallon, Anse Source d’Argent
Island hopping	Ferries between three main islands	Ferries between Mahé, Praslin, La Digue
Sailing and boat trips	Available, modest cost	Excellent, higher cost
Couples spa	Available at resorts	Excellent, world-class
Nature	Mangroves, rainforest, limestone caves	Vallée de Mai, giant tortoises

In Andaman, a typical romantic day looks like this: a morning snorkel at Elephant Beach, a slow afternoon at the resort, sunset at Radhanagar, and a candlelight dinner on the sand. In Seychelles it looks similar, but with a boat trip between islands and a much larger bill.

Local Expert Tip: Whichever destination you choose, book the candlelight dinner at the same time as your hotel. In both places the resorts set up only a handful of tables each night, and they are taken days ahead in peak season.

Which Is Better for Scuba Diving?

Both are genuinely good. This one comes down to cost and convenience.

Seychelles has excellent diving with granite formations, healthy reefs and good visibility. It is a rewarding place to dive, especially for certified divers.

Andaman is one of the best places in India to learn. A beginner dive at Havelock needs no certificate and no experience, and an instructor stays with you the entire time. Because costs are far lower, many couples do their first dive here together — something they might hesitate to try at Seychelles prices.

Diving	Andaman	Seychelles
Beginner dive cost	₹3,500 – ₹6,000	₹12,000 – ₹20,000
Certified fun dive	₹4,000 – ₹6,500	₹10,000 – ₹18,000
Best for	First-timers and value	Experienced divers
Water clarity	Excellent, best Nov – Apr	Excellent, best Apr – May, Oct – Nov

For a honeymoon where both of you want to try diving for the first time, Andaman is the more sensible choice. You can read more in our guide to scuba diving in Andaman.

Local Expert Tip: Wherever you dive, never schedule it for the day before you fly home. You need a gap of about 18 to 24 hours between your last dive and your flight.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

Season	Andaman	Seychelles
Best months	November – February	April – May, October – November
Good months	October, March – May	Most of the year
Avoid or plan flexibly	June – September (monsoon)	Windy spells in Jan and Jul – Aug
Temperature	23°C – 32°C	24°C – 32°C

Seychelles is warm all year, which gives it more flexibility. Andaman has a clearer monsoon window between June and September when seas get rough and ferries can be disrupted.

If you are marrying in the Indian wedding season between November and February, Andaman is at its absolute best in exactly those months. That is convenient timing, and it is one reason so many Indian honeymoons head there.

For a fuller month-by-month picture, see our guide to the best time to visit the Andamans.

If You Choose Seychelles: A Few Honest Tips

We plan Andaman holidays, not Seychelles ones. But if that is where you land, these are worth knowing.

The three main islands are Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Mahé has the airport, the capital Victoria and Beau Vallon beach. Praslin has Anse Lazio and the Vallée de Mai nature reserve. La Digue is the smallest and quietest, and home to Anse Source d’Argent — the beach most people picture when they think of Seychelles.

A typical Seychelles luxury honeymoon itinerary covers all three across six or seven nights, moving by ferry. Most couples spend two or three nights on each.

Seychelles Island	Known For	Suggested Nights
Mahé	Airport, Beau Vallon beach, Victoria, resorts	2 – 3 nights
Praslin	Anse Lazio, Vallée de Mai, quieter resorts	2 – 3 nights
La Digue	Anse Source d’Argent, bicycles, no traffic	1 – 2 nights

A few budget tips if you go. Travel in April to May or October to November, when rates soften. Consider self-catering apartments rather than full-board resorts, since restaurant meals are the biggest hidden cost. Book ferries between islands early, as they fill up in peak months. And carry more forex than you expect to need — card acceptance is good but prices are high.

Traveller insight: The single most common Seychelles regret we hear from couples is under-budgeting for food and boat transfers. The hotel was booked carefully; the daily spending was not. If you go, plan for roughly ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 per day for a couple beyond the hotel.

Which Should You Choose?

If This Sounds Like You	Choose
Budget of ₹1 lakh or under for the couple	Andaman
Budget above ₹2.5 lakh and luxury is the priority	Seychelles
One of you does not have a valid passport yet	Andaman
You want to learn scuba diving together	Andaman
You want a first international trip together	Seychelles
Only 5 to 6 days of leave	Andaman
You want vegetarian or Indian food easily	Andaman
You want the most dramatic beach photographs	Seychelles
You want the best value per rupee	Andaman
You want maximum privacy and a private-island resort	Seychelles

Traveller insight: The couples happiest with Seychelles are the ones who chose it deliberately and budgeted properly. The couples unhappiest with it are the ones who stretched to afford it and then spent the week counting costs. If Seychelles feels like a stretch, Andaman done well beats Seychelles done anxiously.

Andaman Honeymoon Packages for Couples

If you have decided on Andaman, here is what a good honeymoon package should look like.

Duration	Islands Covered	Approx Cost Per Person (Land)
4 Nights / 5 Days	Port Blair, Havelock, Neil	₹19,000 – ₹28,000
5 Nights / 6 Days	All three, unhurried	₹22,000 – ₹35,000
6 Nights / 7 Days	All three plus extra beach days	₹28,000 – ₹45,000
7 Nights / 8 Days	All three plus Ross or Baratang	₹35,000 – ₹55,000

Most couples choose the 5 nights 6 days honeymoon package. It gives you two unhurried nights on Havelock, a quiet stretch on Neil Island, and no day spent only travelling.

A customised Andaman honeymoon package can include scuba diving, a candlelight dinner, private transfers, ferry tickets and island hopping across Havelock and Neil Island. You can compare every option on our Andaman honeymoon packages page:

3 Nights 4 Days | 4 Nights 5 Days | 5 Nights 6 Days | 6 Nights 7 Days | 7 Nights 8 Days

Sample 7 Day Andaman Honeymoon Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive in Port Blair. Rest, then the Cellular Jail Light and Sound Show in the evening.

Day 2 — Morning ferry to Havelock. Check into your beachfront resort, then Radhanagar Beach for sunset.

Day 3 — Elephant Beach for snorkeling or a first scuba dive. Candlelight dinner in the evening.

Day 4 — A slow day on Havelock. Kalapathar Beach, or simply nothing at all.

Day 5 — Ferry to Neil Island. Bharatpur and Laxmanpur beaches, the Natural Bridge at low tide.

Day 6 — Neil Island at leisure, then afternoon ferry back to Port Blair.

Day 7 — Fly home.

Local Expert Tip: Leave at least one afternoon completely unplanned. Couples who schedule something every day come home tired, and the empty afternoon is almost always the part they describe afterwards.

Sample Package Inclusions

Inclusion	What It Actually Means
Hotels	Stays in Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island in your chosen category
Ferry tickets	All island crossings on private cruises, booked in advance
Airport transfers	Pickup and drop at Port Blair airport, timed to your flight
Sightseeing	Private AC vehicle — you set the pace
Breakfast	Daily breakfast at every hotel
Local assistance	A team in the Andamans you can call throughout the trip

Honeymoon extras such as a candlelight dinner, flower bed decoration, a cake or a private beach dinner can be added — tell us at booking so we can confirm the resort can arrange it on your dates.

Why Book with AndamanTravelCare

What We Offer	Why It Matters
Government licensed	A registered operator, not a middleman passing your booking along
Local team in the Andamans	We plan around this week’s real ferry timings and hotel availability
Transparent pricing	The number we quote is the number you pay
Custom itineraries	Built around your dates and pace, not a fixed template
24/7 on-ground support	Someone reachable in the islands if plans change
Reviews and recognition	AATO member with hundreds of verified Google and TripAdvisor reviews

About the Author

Fawziya Co-Founder, AndamanTravelCare AATO Member | Government Licensed Tour Operator | Based in Port Blair

Fawziya plans honeymoons across Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island from her office in the islands, and this comparison reflects the conversation she has with couples every week. Many arrive comparing Andaman with Seychelles, the Maldives or Bali, and the most useful thing an operator can do is be straight about where each one wins.

Costs, visa rules and seasonal details change. Everything here is a realistic planning guide reviewed at the time of publication, and Seychelles entry requirements should always be checked with official sources before booking.

About This Page

Author	Fawziya, Co-Founder — AndamanTravelCare
Reviewed By	Senior Travel Consultant, AndamanTravelCare
Content Type	Destination Comparison Guide
Primary Topic	Andaman vs Seychelles for Honeymoon
Location	Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Frequently Asked Questions

Andaman or Seychelles — which is better for a honeymoon? Andaman is better for value, ease and shorter trips, costing a couple ₹75,000 to ₹1,30,000 for about a week. Seychelles is better for luxury, privacy and dramatic scenery, usually starting around ₹2,00,000 and rising. For most Indian couples, Andaman gives more honeymoon per rupee.

Which is cheaper, Andaman or Seychelles? Andaman, by roughly two to three times. Hotels and food are the biggest differences — a dinner for two that costs ₹1,200 in Havelock can cost ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 in Mahé.

Do I need a visa for Seychelles from India? No pre-arranged visa is needed. Indians receive a free Visitor’s Permit on arrival, but you must apply online for a Travel Authorisation before flying and carry a passport valid for at least six months, a return ticket, proof of accommodation and proof of funds. Andaman needs none of this for Indian citizens.

How much does an Andaman honeymoon package cost? A 5 nights 6 days honeymoon package runs ₹22,000 to ₹35,000 per person for the land portion, plus ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 per person for flights. Most couples spend ₹75,000 to ₹1,30,000 in total.

Which has better beaches, Andaman or Seychelles? Seychelles beaches are more dramatic, thanks to the granite boulders at places like Anse Source d’Argent. Andaman’s beaches, like Radhanagar, are longer, calmer curves of white sand. Water clarity is excellent in both.

Are there overwater bungalows in Andaman or Seychelles? Neither is really the destination for that. Overwater villas are the signature of the Maldives and Bora Bora. Seychelles has a very small number; Andaman has essentially none. Both offer beachfront rooms where you step from your door onto sand.

Which is better for scuba diving on a honeymoon? Andaman, if you are learning together — a beginner dive costs ₹3,500 to ₹6,000 with no certificate needed. Seychelles diving is excellent too but costs three to four times more, which matters if neither of you has dived before.

Is Andaman good enough compared to an international honeymoon? For most couples, yes. The water clarity, coral and beaches genuinely compare well. What Andaman does not match is Seychelles’ top-tier luxury resorts and the feeling of an international trip. If those matter most to you, Seychelles is worth the extra.

When is the best time for an Andaman honeymoon? November to February — calm seas, the clearest water, and warm dry weather. This overlaps neatly with the Indian wedding season. Avoid June to September, when the monsoon can disrupt ferries and water sports.

Can I get a customised Andaman honeymoon package? Yes. Tell us your dates and budget and we will build the itinerary around them, including scuba diving, a candlelight dinner, private transfers, ferries and island hopping across Havelock and Neil Island.

The Short Version

Both destinations will give you a beautiful honeymoon. The choice is really about budget and priorities.

Seychelles wins on luxury resorts, dramatic beach scenery and the feeling of an international trip. It costs two to three times more, needs a passport and paperwork, and rewards couples who budget for it properly.

Andaman wins on value, simplicity and ease — no passport, no forex, shorter flights, cheaper diving, familiar food, and excellent beaches at a fraction of the price. For a couple with a budget under about ₹1.5 lakh, it is not a close contest.

Planning your honeymoon? Tell us your dates and budget and we will send a customised Andaman honeymoon package — hotels named, pricing broken down — within 10 minutes.

If you are still weighing options, it is worth browsing the full range of Andaman honeymoon packages across budget, deluxe and beachfront categories. Couples travelling with family before or after the wedding may also want the Andaman family packages, and our main Andaman tour packages page brings every itinerary together in one place.